7.0Ltrs of Love

Doing heads and cam install in my zr1 and a few buddies with a c6 and ctsv mentioned to me a problem with the ls3 style tensioner that we have in our ls9. I guess they tend to fail a lot especially after a cam install... has anyone on here experienced any issues? Are you modded guys still using your oem tensioners or did you switch to the ls7/ls2 dog bone style dampener?

BigVette427

I don't know if the LS9 uses a bracket similar to that of the LSA, but it sounds like you can use the black GEN III/IV dampener, (GM 12588670.)

The LS7 specific dampener which is required when used on a dry sump LS7 require the yellow dampener (GM 12581276) as it is 1.1mm thinner so that it can fit with the LS7 2-stage oil pump. The reason for the two different colors was for the assembly line at GM, so they could readily tell which ones were which.

Found a little info (and pics) over here on how it works on the LSA motor.
http://www.ctsvowners.com/forum/4-en...ide-issue.html

7.0Ltrs of Love

So being an ls9 and dry sump I would want to go with the ls7 style dampener?

BigVette427

I don't know the answer to that question, somebody else who has been there will have to confirm. As I have gathered, it sounds like you can just use the black dampener which is the universal Gen III/IV LS dampener. I'd like to know more about this for my own general knowledge and certainly before I'd begin to swap parts.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ing-chain.html

lt1z

Use the LS7 style on LS9 due to the dry sump style cover